James McDonald returns a winner

James McDonald returned a winner at his first ride at Warwick Farm on Wednesday, chalking up a double for incoming Hall of Fame trainer Chris Waller as part of a five-timer for the stable.

All eyes were on McDonald early and it took every bit of riding on his return to get Cormac over the line in Race 1, before he went on to make it a double when saluting aboard Monasterio in another thrilling finish over Waller stablemate Vaucluse Bay in Race 5.

In the five-horse field in Race 1, Kerrin McEvoy took stablemate Smiling Manolito to the front, but McDonald kept in touch with the leader aboard his charge - and they duelled it out to the line.

McEvoy ensured McDonald had to ride out every bit of the 1400m late, but the comeback jockey - who was disqualified for 18 months for betting on one of his mounts - made it a sweet return.

"My legs are a bit jelly - I didn't need a tight finish to start off the day," McDonald quipped to Sky Thoroughbred Central.

"He found the line really well - I think those two horses came away from the field, and he toughed it out the best."

He added: "It's been well-documented over the last week how I've matured.

"Hopefully this is the start of bigger and better things.

"I want to move on, and hopefully this is a good starting point.

"My family made the trip over from New Zealand, and my girlfriend Katelyn [Mallyon] is here, and my best mate Toddy so it's really good."

McDonald's overall return on his first day back riding was pretty strong - outside of his double, he also ran second aboard Tinkermosa for John Sargent in Race 3, and was third aboard Tarka for trainer David Payne as a 20-1 shot.

Waller's five-timer took his tally of Sydney city winners this season to 150 - and his own record of 169 set in 2015-16 is under serious threat in the coming weeks.